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So how did the M1600A function? Well, the most simple function is the FM radio, it auto seeks, auto tunes and allows you to store up to 30 presets. There was no digital radio capability however, or at least on the preview model I tested. I had no problems with radio playback during my time with the product but obviously performance is dependant on reception in your area.

On the other hand, playing standard CDs has no down sides at all. As you would expect, everything you can do on a normal Hi-Fi you can do here: program, shuffle, repeat and holding down the skip track buttons will let you scan the music at high speed. But things do become a little more complicated with MP3s. The problem here is that the LCD only displays track numbers not track names so you’ll need a good memory or a print out of the listing if you are going to jump around your CD. And a problem with the remote soon becomes evident.

The provided remote is black, slimline and quite stylish but it has no number pad, just forward and back buttons. Translate this to an MP3 CD which can hold, on average, around 150 tracks and skipping to any single song, or even programming a selection is going to be a major hassle. So my advice would be to let the CD play, or put it on shuffle. But hopefully, Gigabyte will add a number pad to its remote before the final release. There were also some sensitivity issues with the remote, but I have been assured these are known glitches that will be sorted out.

Now despite these faults, I have to say I quite enjoyed my time with the M1600A and just about everyone who saw my PC in the last week has asked me what that funky flashy thing in the CD slot was. But to me the biggest challenge Gigabyte faces with the this product is whether it offers enough to attract multimedia fans away from simply switching their PCs on and doing everything in software.

In my mind, the answer to that question depends on one thing, price. Unfortunately, Gigabyte has still to set this, but as a guide I would want it to fall under the £65 mark. For that price, you get a great looking drive with some novel functionality that is sure to spark conversation when you use it. Above that and you might as well switch on your PC, where the noise will be drowned out by the music anyway and play your full selection of MP3s from you hard drive, program them to your heart’s content and save some Internet radio urls.

This would be a shame however, because any device that brings convergence another step closer is welcome in my book, so it will be interesting to see what Gigabyte settles on, when the product is released in May.

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